Snow, Rains Forecast In Valley

SRINAGAR (ONS) - Heralding the arrival of winter, the higher reaches of Kashmir experienced snowfall Wednesday while most areas in the plains were lashed by rains since evening resulting in sharp fall in the day temperature.

The Met office here has forecast rains and snowfall across Kashmir, including the Pir Panjal mountain range and upper reaches in the valley’s peripheries, during the next 24 hours even as hundreds of tourists are heading for various hill resorts, director, Sonam Lotus, said, adding dry weather would prevail again from November 30 to last for another four days.

Reports pouring in from various areas said Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg had a snowfall since this morning while Rajouri and adjoining Thanamandi were lashed by rains.

Kashmir valley is witnessing a severe cold wave, particularly during night. The minimum temperature in Srinagar has fallen to minus 1.7 degree Celsius. The sky all over valley was overcast on Wednesday afternoon and it started raining in the evening.

"The present western disturbance over the state is likely to intensify and will affect Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining areas from tonight till November 29 evening," a Met official said, predicting a fall in day temperature by 4-5°C. "The night temperature will rise by 1 to 2°C," he said.

By this evening, reports said, Sadhna and Farkian tops in Karnah area of Kupwara district had received three to four inch snow while similar precipitation was recorded on Gund, Gagangir on Srinagar-Kargil routes, Rajdhani pass on Bandipore-Gurez road, Mughal road and in Machhil area of Kupwara district.

The deputy commissioners, police and traffic officials have been asked to take steps to ensure strict implementation of traffic restriction to safeguard life and property. However, the Srinagar-Jammu highway remained open for the day.